Gene and I used to talk, as many of us do, about the purpose of our lives. Why were we here? Will we survive death?

We made a pact that whoever went first would let the other know 'he made it.'

After Gene passed I saw him in several dreams. Hmmm. Did that count?

One day a packet arrived in the mail from Bill McGovern, his nephew. Things pertaining to the funeral, Gene's life, etc. I looked through the packet fondly remembering our conversations.

I had just begun writing a book that I finally finished on January 2, 2019. Quite a process! Billy's large envelop was placed atop some of this material which was then in its early stages. 

I went back to the book. Suddenly out of the left corner of my eye, Billy's envelop raised off my desk and plopped loudly on the floor. Banggg!

At first startled, I laughed when Gene 'appeared' in my office and told me, 'I made it. I'm ok.'

Nothing more. 

He was fulfilling his obligation as promised.

I picked up the packet and reread the material. 

"Thanks for coming back to let me know," I said softly.

I'm sure he had things to do where he is.


One thing I appreciated about Gene was his love of plants native to Oregon. But he didn't just love them, he created beds all around his Lusted Rd homes that showcased the beauty of these flowers and shrubs.

To help them flourish, he needed to raise the beds to keep those that needed good drainage dry. This required truck loads of dirt from his fields. To make everything authentic, he also trucked in big rocks--small boulders actually--to make his new friends comfortable in their adopted homes.

He made quite a study of what was native to the area and often went many miles to adopt the new residents of his growing garden.

I often wondered whether his interest in native plants resonated with his own interest to adapt and fit in. His parents--wonderful people--were immigrants from Italy. 

Meanwhile his own interest in connecting was reflected by his maintaining ham radio equipment and talking with folks around the world until the sky began to brighten in the East. There was always someone new in the world to meet.

You are missed, my friend.

You made a difference to many.


Gene was at first my boss, later a valued and respected friend. My parents bought a plot of land on Pipeline Rd in 1954, and for the next several years I helped harvest crops at Gene's farm on Lusted Rd.For several years starting in 1957 Gene had the hottest road car in the area, a punch button V 8 Dodge that was a monster in a drag race. As a teen ager that impressed me greatly. What impressed me later in life was Gene's willingness to spend countless hours reaching out to others who needed his help and expertise. From his radio training in the Navy, Gene loved working with CBs and CB equipment and assisting those with similar interests who needed help. Most people who knew Gene knew a competent berry, broc and cabbage farmer. There were layers, however,  beyond what he did for a living. My takeaway from my relationship with Gene was his non-judgmental caring and helpfulness. If God needs a cabbage farmer in heaven, my bet is he'll have a heck of a crop...and he'll be helping his buddy down the road when he needs it.

I just lost a Gresham High School friend, Gene Stone, and was looking through the Bateman site when I came upon Eugene's name.  We lived on Pipeline Road and came up to pick blackberries and loganberries as kids.  My brother and I went by the nicknames Lorry and Jolly.  My older sister Karen was closer to Eugene's age.  They used to plant together as a team, and the story was that Eugene had a crush on Karen but was too much older to date her.  There was a relative "Billy" that came out to stay in the summer with the Chiodo's.  He had a pellet rifle and we roamed the woods shooting at everything in sight -- crows, pidgeons, cats.  I had a BB gun and envied his pellet gun.  My sympathy goes out to your family.  Unfortunately, all my family is gone.

Chiodo was a terrific boss, neighbor, and friend.  He was always nice and we could count on him if we needed help.  We are sorry we weren't able to make the service.  The Wayne Hagen Family

i wish to thank everybody for coming to gene service it ment a lot to the family thanks so much

i wish to thank everybody for coming to gene's service it meant a lot to the family thanks so much again for coming

Gene was a great man and will deeply be missed.  I'm sorry I wasn't able to make the services but you are all in my thoughts.

OBITUARY

Eugene A. Chiodo Jr.

September 18, 1925 – March 3, 2011

Bateman Carroll Funeral Home

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